Festive Recipe Collection- Diwali Gifts, Sweets & Snacks

After getting successful reviews on my first Festive Recipe post, here I come with another one on Diwali sweets. Did I say these are healthy sweets that make equally attractive Diwali gifts and giveaways?

India is a land of festivals, with Diwali being the most popular of all Indian festivals, celebrated with much pomp and show. The Diwali fervor is distinct from the enthusiasm that any other festival brings along. The festival of lights, as Diwali is popularly called, is celebrated throughout the country, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. It is the celebration of Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya from his 14-year exile. Sikhs celebrate the festival to commemorate the return of Shri Guru Hargobind from Gwalior along with 52 rajas who were taken as hostages by the then Mughal ruler.

There is a sweet story how the sixth guru of Sikhs rescued these 52 rulers. Guru Hargobind got a gown stitched with 52 hems, and each raja got hold of one hem while the guru came out of the fort.

Now let's come back to this festive collection post. In continuation of my first festive recipe collection, I have come up with this one, since I got an overwhelming response from various groups. Since these are healthy recipes, you get to enjoy the festival of lights with healthy sweets and savories guilt free.

Preparing these festival sweets is a breeze. Serve them to unexpected guests this Diwali. I won;t be wrong to say that these make excellent Diwali gifts. What do you say?

Coconut burfi by Chitra Balachander

Chitra Balachander is a sweet person at heart, with exceptional culinary skills. The kind of recipes she comes up with amazes me. A typical south Indian Brahmin, Chitra di has recently become a grand mom and has started sharing kid-friedly recipes with us. So keep watching this space for recipes for kids.

In a heavy bottom pan add water and sugar and boil it till u get a thick one string consistency.
Add grated coconut and elachi powder.
Keep on mixing in low flsme
Add cashew nuts
Mix it till the mixture starts leaving the pan and become like one big ball.
Immediately pour the mixture into the greased pan
Allow.it to come down to the room temperature.
Make pieces of your choice.

Badam burfi by Chitra Balachander

badaam bufi

Almonds are the healthiest of nuts available. Badaam burfi is a healthy way to enjoy Diwali sweets. I am in love with almond ladoos and burfis. This special festival sweet packs a powerful punch and is equally delicious. Did I say it is easy to churn out?

Ingredients
Almonds/badam 400 gms
Sugar 800 gms
Safaron 1 gms
Ghee 100 gms
Elachi powder 2 tea spoon
milk as required to grindMethod
Soak and peel the almonds and make it a coarsely paste by adding milk. Then in a pan put sugar and put water so that the sugar get wet and make a single string syrup/chasni. Then add the grinded paste and safaron and ghee and mix it continuesly till the mixture start leaving the pan. Keep ready the greased plate with ghee.spread the mixture immediately in the plate and let it come to the room temperature.cut into desired shape and store in air tight container once ita fully cold

Besan ladoos By Chitra B
Who on earth does not like besan ladoo, except my dearest hubby? I love chickpea gluten free ladoos more than any other ladoo.

Take a heavy bottom khadai and add ghee.
Àdd besan and roast it till it starts leaving ghee
Please roast it in low flsme don't be in hurry
Switch off the gas and allow the roasted besan to cool down little
Now add elachai powder and sugar powder and mix well.
Now take small portion of the mixture and give it the shape of ladoos.
Now garnish with almonds
Allow it to cool down completely or it will with each other
Enjoy with family

Moong sprouts ki kheer by Deepti Aggarwal

Did I tell you in the previous festive collection post that this lady will leave no stone unturned to spring a surprise with her unique recipes. Here Deepti comes with another classic from her mom's kitchen. Sprouted kheer? Can anybody think to this extent? Beyond my imagination!

diwali sweet -sprouted kheer

Grind 100 gm sprouted moong daal coarsely.

Take care it does not become paste.

In an open pan or wok,heat one spoon clarified butter(desi ghee),roast d daal on low flame till aroma starts coming

This rose infused recipe comes from Poonam Bachhav, another talented blogger. She cooks up deliciousness.

Kaddu /petha/ pumpkin halwa by Geeta Sachdev

Geeta Sachdev is a sweetheart - a sweet lady with a big heart and amazing skills in the kitchen. She cooks up delicious food and treats everyone alike. This pumpkin halwa recipe makes a sumptuous Diwali sweet. Serve it to guests when they come calling suddenly.

BREAD WALNUT CHOCO FLAVOURED BURFI by Geeta Sachdev

This makes a perfect Diwali gift. What do you think? Different, unique, and of course delectable, bread walnut burfi flavored with chocolate would water the mouth of just about anyone.

Ingredients

2 cups fresh white bread crumbs.i used 7 slices of brown bread

3 tbsp clarified butter or ghee

2 tbsp liquid chocolate .i used neutella or can used grated pieces of any choclate of ur choice or skip this ingredients1 cup milk 1cup sugar1 cup crushed walnuts1/4,tsp cardamom crushedMake the bread crumbs,cut the bread in small pieces and do not remove the edges,i used grinder to make crumbsDry roast the bread crumbs over medium heat in a frying pan or karahi for 2 mins stirring continuously (with white bread this will take about 5 ..6 minutes).roasted bread crumbs will be light golden in colour . Sprinkle the sugar and keep roasting .sugar will be caramelized with bread crumbs and will be light brown in colour.this process will take about 8 minutesAdd cardmoms and milk, keep stirring ,mixture will be in texture of soft doughAdd ghee or butter along with choclate syrup and roast the mix with ghee for another 5 minute until mix will start leaving the edgesAdd the walnuts and fold it with mixTurn off the heat and pour into over greased plateSpread it in square shape let it set for about half until it comes to room temperatureCut them in 1 I squareDelicious burfi is ready .you can store the burfi outside for a week.

Ritu needs no introduction among foodies or even among health freaks. I wonder how she finds a balance between work & home and still manage a toddler. Hats off to her brilliance in the kitchen, her being so humble and humane, and a very sweet friend, who will share only health food with you. Love her brilliant ideas. Not to mention, she is the oats queen in our food group - Healthy Recipes by Homemakers.This carrot fudge is just one example of her illustrious exploits in the kitchen.

Oats urad daal barfi by Deepti Aggarwal

Another contribution to the festive recipe collection from Deepti.
Contemporary twist to a traditional flavour!!!

Biscuit Lollies by Deepti Aggarwal

Another unique recipe from Deepti. "Kids luv these,mamma loves these....so y not make them healthy n let ur kids make them.....here is something that even 6-7 year olds can make," says Deepti ..

Diwali gift for kids

Crush three oats marie biscuits with your fingures as fine as possible.....divide the powder to make two lollies...to one part add malai n knead like dough....roll into ball ...prick with toothpick....plain lolly is ready.....now add jam or chocolate sauce or fruit pulp or anything that takes your fancy to the other part....repeat the procedure of the first one....colorful,tasty lollies are ready.Keep them in refrigerator fr some time so dat they r firmly set.

Do these festival recipes remind you of something? These are healthy and of course delectable. Do try these recipes and treat loved ones to a special treat. They would remember these special goodies for a lifetime. What are you planning to present friends as Diwali gifts?

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